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| THE ROUNDERS
(director/writer: Charles Chaplin; cinematographer:
Frank D. Williams; editor: Charles
Chaplin; cast: Charles Chaplin
(Reveller), Roscoe 'Fatty' Arbuckle (Charlie's
neighbor), Phyllis Allen (Charlie's wife), Minta
Durfee (Fatty's wife), Al St. John (Bellhop/waiter),
Jess Dandy (Diner), Wallace MacDonald (Diner), Charley
Chase (Diner); Runtime: 11; MPAA Rating: NR;
producer: Mack Sennett; TCM; 1914) "Mildly interesting." Reviewed by Dennis Schwartz Early
one-reeler Charles Chaplin slapstick Mack
Sennett Keystone comedy that he wrote, directed and
starred in. It's mildly interesting, making some funny
comments on the institution of marriage, but some
years away from his more evolved "Tramp" character. In this comedy Chaplin and Arbuckle live in the same hotel, belong to the same lodge, and are both drunks married to domineering wives. One night they return separately and are both plastered and both needing help from the bellboy to make it to their apartment. First Chaplin gets kicked around by his wife Phyllis Allen and then Fatty's wife Minta Durfee kicks him around. Then the wives get angry at each other. The boys suddenly team up and steal money from the purses of their wives and make their way to Smith's Cafe, where their angry wives come after them and a brawl breaks out in the club but the boys flee the club mob chasing them and end up falling asleep in a capsizing rowboat they stole in the park. REVIEWED ON 9/7/2012 GRADE: B- Dennis Schwartz: "Ozus' World Movie Reviews" © ALL RIGHTS RESERVED DENNIS SCHWARTZ |